Reserve Head
The so-called “reserve heads” are exquisitely carved limestone sculptures representing the heads of tomb owners, discovered in burial shafts around the pyramid complexes of Giza. These heads, with their remarkably realistic features, shaved scalps, and intense gaze, were often found buried in tombs separate from the main burial chamber. Their purpose, however, remains a subject of debate.
Though found predominantly at Giza, the concept of magical or protective statues is widespread in Egyptian funerary practices, reflecting the deep belief in the power of images and names to sustain the soul in the afterlife. The realistic style of the reserve heads also provides invaluable insight into the artistic advancements of the Old Kingdom, marking them as precursors to the more formalised portraiture seen in later dynasties.
Theories suggest these heads served as magical substitutes for the deceased’s actual head, should it be damaged in the afterlife. Some scholars interpret them as Ka-statues, physical anchors for the Ka (vital essence) of the deceased, while others believe they represent a protective measure; a spare head to ensure the continuity of identity in the face of tomb desecration:
Some reserve heads display curious mutilations, scratches, cuts across the neck, or even missing facial features. One interpretation posits that these marks were intentional, part of ritual “deactivation” to prevent malevolent spirits from exploiting the heads’ magical qualities. Another theory suggests these heads were practice pieces for sculptors, though the high craftsmanship and careful placement in tombs challenge this view. Others see the damage as a way of ensuring that while the head could act as a magical substitute for the deceased, it could not be used by tomb robbers or rival spirits. This ritualistic “killing” of the object might have been seen as a protective act, aligning with Egyptian beliefs about the power of images to both aid and harm.
Old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, reign of Khafre, around c. 2570 B.C.
Medium: Limestone.
From Giza necropolis.
Now in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. JE 46216
